Theodore stared at the so-called Curse King's actions and froze for a moment.
Wait.
Was this thing seriously rushing forward to take the Nailhead Seven Arrows curse on purpose?
Was something wrong with its head?
Forget calling itself the King of Curses. Even if it dragged out some God of Curses, touching the Nailhead Seven Arrows would still end miserably.
This was a top-tier curse art from the Primordial World, powerful enough to curse a quasi-saint to death. How could some "Curse King" from the magical world possibly withstand it?
At that moment, the eyes and strange organs growing from the blood-red thorns began bleeding. It was as if they were suffering unbearable agony.
Shrill, disbelieving screams echoed through the chamber.
"What curse is this?"
"What kind of curse is this?!"
"I fused with the Curse King of the ancient age! All curses should be my nourishment! How can a curse harm me?"
"Impossible! Impossible! My fusion with the Curse King must not be complete enough. I still can't fully unleash its power…"
"I have to endure. Once the Curse King's true power is released, this tiny curse will be absorbed immediately."
"I am invincible!"
The blood-red thorns tried to devour the Nailhead Seven Arrows curse again.
The result was that every eye growing on them burst open at once, scarlet blood spraying like fountains.
Then, something even more terrifying happened.
This fragment of the Curse King—the fragment that had taken decades of planning and Flynna's life to mature—began to wither under the power of the Nailhead Seven Arrows.
"No!"
"No!"
"I was only missing this final piece! The Curse King was only one step from completion! No, no!"
It frantically tried to expel the curse from its body.
But even Zhao Gongming, a quasi-saint of the Primordial World, could not accomplish such a thing.
How could this monster possibly do it?
The curse power of the Nailhead Seven Arrows fused directly into the blood-red thorns. It could not even trace where the curse had gone. It could only feel this fragment of its body being destroyed by the raging curse.
Even its true body, hidden far away, sensed a terrible danger.
If the Nailhead Seven Arrows curse were allowed to continue spreading, even the main body hidden in the dark—the one assembled over centuries through the deception of countless herbology masters like Flynna—might be dragged into it.
So, after a few moments of venomous, miserable screaming, the hidden existence abandoned this fragment of the Curse King.
The blood-red thorn melted into a foul pool of blood.
Elsewhere, in a mysterious place filled with thick blood like a sea, blood-red thorns thrashed wildly like giant pythons.
A frenzied voice echoed over the blood sea.
"Only one step! I was only missing that final piece!"
"The Curse King was so close to becoming complete!"
"Damn it! Do I have to spend another few decades before it can be completed?"
Then the thorns seemed to remember something.
"Theodore Snow from Flynna's memories…"
"That strange magic of his can definitely repair even this missing part."
"And that Whomping Willow. I have a feeling that if I absorb its power, I won't just become complete. I may even ascend beyond the Curse King itself!"
"Theodore… the Willow…"
At that moment, Theodore raised an eyebrow.
He sensed intense malice directed at him.
For his Heavenly Calculation talent to react, the source had to be someone of considerable level.
There was no need to guess. It had to be that old herbology monster trying to cultivate the Curse King.
A faint sneer appeared on Theodore's face.
"Why bother?"
"If you don't court death, you won't die."
"These hidden things in the magical world really are… ignorant and arrogant."
Then Theodore's attention was drawn to a new series of system prompts.
[In Wuzhuang Temple, a root of the Ginseng Fruit Tree has been unexpectedly damaged.]
[This tree is Zhen Yuanzi's lifeline and closely tied to his Dao. Though only one root has been damaged, the Ginseng Fruit Tree is no longer complete. Unless repaired, it will be difficult for it to advance further.]
[However, repairing such a spiritual root of heaven and earth is extremely difficult and would consume a vast amount of time.]
[If one can find someone who has comprehended the path of the Eternal Evergreen Immortal and refine that person's Dao fruit into the Ginseng Fruit Tree, not only can the tree be restored, it may even advance further.]
[Under normal circumstances, such a person would certainly be a quasi-saint. Zhen Yuanzi might defeat such an existence, but capturing and killing them would be impossible.]
[However, through divination, Zhen Yuanzi has discovered that the host has not reached the quasi-saint realm, yet possesses the ability of the Eternal Evergreen Immortal.]
[Zhen Yuanzi's relationship with the host has automatically become irreconcilable enmity.]
Theodore's eyes flickered thoughtfully.
According to the system, "Zhen Yuanzi" should correspond to that old herbology monster, while the Ginseng Fruit Tree corresponded to the blood-red thorn known as the Curse King.
In the Primordial World, Zhen Yuanzi possessed both the Book of Earth and the Ginseng Fruit Tree. Both were spiritual treasures of heaven and earth and were deeply tied to his path.
In this magical world, that old herbology monster seemed to have merged with the Curse King in some way, gaining control over its power.
None of this had appeared in the original story. Nor had there ever been mention of conflict between Professor Sprout and Flynna.
Was this another butterfly effect caused by his arrival?
Theodore shook his head and stopped dwelling on it.
Compared with those details, he cared more about what rewards he could obtain from "Zhen Yuanzi."
With a title like quasi-saint and Ancestor of Earth Immortals, surely the rewards would not disappoint him.
He followed the blood-black hostile relationship line connected to Zhen Yuanzi.
[Inflict permanent damage on Zhen Yuanzi's Ginseng Fruit Tree and prevent him from relying on the tree to attain the Dao. Reward: Wuzhuang Temple Grand Formation.]
[This formation was created by Zhen Yuanzi through his comprehension of heaven and earth. Though it cannot compare with the Immortal-Slaughtering Sword Formation, the Cosmic Star Formation, or the Two Elements Dust Formation, it is still considered a first-rate formation in the Primordial World.]
[Its defensive power is extremely strong. Unless a saint acts, few under heaven can break it.]
[It can also gather the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Even ordinary land, once covered by the Wuzhuang Temple Grand Formation, can gradually transform into a blessed land or small grotto-heaven.]
[However, this formation requires a spiritual root of heaven and earth, like the Ginseng Fruit Tree, to suppress the formation eye before it can display its full mysteries.]
[Destroy Zhen Yuanzi's Ginseng Fruit Tree, sever Zhen Yuanzi's path, and heavily damage his foundation. Reward: Sleeve Universe divine ability.]
[To contain heaven and earth within one sleeve. This is a top-tier spatial divine ability comparable to Reversing Heaven and Earth or Mediating Creation.]
[Completely kill Zhen Yuanzi. Reward: Book of Earth opportunity.]
[The Book of Earth is a supreme treasure born from the ley lines of the Primordial World. Its power is extraordinary. Zhen Yuanzi relies on the Book of Earth to hold a special status among quasi-saints.]
[The Book of Earth is also crucial to whether Lady Houtu's Earth Dao can contend against the Heavenly Dao. It bears great significance for the Netherworld and reincarnation.]
[Obtaining the Book of Earth will allow one to influence reincarnation, and even the balance between the Earth Dao and Heavenly Dao.]
Theodore took a deep breath.
The Wuzhuang Temple Grand Formation.
Sleeve Universe.
Even the Book of Earth opportunity.
All of them were excellent rewards.
It seemed "Zhen Yuanzi" had even more reason to die now.
However, because Theodore had already cursed a fragment of the Curse King to death earlier, the first reward had already fallen into his hands.
The Wuzhuang Temple Grand Formation.
In Theodore's view, this formation might not be as high-level as Sleeve Universe, let alone the Book of Earth opportunity.
But it was the most practical reward for him right now.
Sleeve Universe was indeed powerful. In Journey to the West, Zhen Yuanzi casually waved his sleeve and trapped Sun Wukong's group inside. They could not escape.
And he did it twice.
Even the Buddha had to trick Sun Wukong into the palm of his hand.
Although one could not judge strength purely from such details, the might of Sleeve Universe was beyond doubt.
But its difficulty was equally outrageous.
A top-tier spatial divine ability required deep comprehension of the Dao of Space.
Theodore had the Invisibility Cloak and could use it to glimpse a little of the Dao of Space, but he had no idea how long it would take to meet the requirements for Sleeve Universe.
As for the Book of Earth opportunity, Theodore had already experienced something similar with the Innate Five Direction Flags opportunity.
Even something merely similar to the Southern off-the-Ground Flame Flag required him to enter the domain of an Old One and possibly face its true body.
The Book of Earth was surely of even higher grade than a single Flame Flag.
After all, it was a supreme treasure capable of affecting the balance between the Earth Dao and the Heavenly Dao.
It might require him to enter the territory of a top-tier Old One.
Theodore was strong now, but facing the true body of an Old One was still far beyond him.
That would be near certain death.
So even if the Book of Earth opportunity appeared, he had no idea when he would be able to cash it in.
But the Wuzhuang Temple Grand Formation was different.
Once he comprehended it, he could immediately begin collecting materials and preparing the formation.
He even already had the required spiritual root.
The transformed Whomping Willow possessed demon-immortal potential, carried the aura of Phoenix-Resting Parasol Flame, and had a faint trace of Jianmu's bearing.
It should be enough to serve as a spiritual root in the magical world and suppress the formation eye of the Wuzhuang Temple Grand Formation.
Once the formation was placed over Hogwarts, its safety would rise by an entire level.
Theodore remembered how, when he had investigated the madness within the Giant Squid, that madness had appeared directly inside the Room of Requirement and tried to corrupt him.
The grey mist in the Forbidden Forest had also temporarily passed through Hogwarts' protective magic.
Hogwarts did have defenses against corrupted entities, but they were not enough.
With the Wuzhuang Temple Grand Formation added on top, the area would become nearly unbreakable.
Even if the return of the ancient age accelerated and corrupted beings began appearing one after another, Hogwarts would remain an absolutely safe refuge.
At the same time, the Wuzhuang Temple Grand Formation could gather spiritual energy and raise its density.
That mattered even more to Theodore.
Not only would his Five Elements Reversal Essence Sea talent continue accelerating, but Harry and the others would also train faster.
If Theodore truly opened the immortal path to others one day, this formation could support the cultivation of many people.
Compared with chasing down Zhen Yuanzi immediately for later rewards, Theodore decided to first arrange the Wuzhuang Temple Grand Formation as soon as possible.
Then he said inwardly, "System, claim the Cloud-Raising Rain-Summoning Art, Wuzhuang Temple Talisman Arts, Voice That Halts the Clouds, and the Wuzhuang Temple Grand Formation."
A vast amount of information flooded Theodore's mind.
A long-lost dizziness followed.
It took him quite some time to regain clarity. He shook his head and pushed the sensation away.
Although he had not studied the inheritances deeply yet and had only glimpsed them roughly, that was enough for him to confirm that each art was profound, orthodox, and majestic.
"Wuzhuang Temple…"
"As expected of the place known as the mansion of immortals who never age, the home of Daoists who share the lifespan of heaven."
"Extraordinary. Truly extraordinary."
"If I digest all these rewards, my understanding of the Dao will rise greatly. The threshold for cultivating many spells and divine abilities will drop, and my existing divine abilities will reveal even more mysteries."
Mystic light flowed through Theodore's eyes.
The All-Seeing Heavenly Eye activated.
He could hardly wait to begin comprehending the rewards.
But the first thing Theodore studied was not the Wuzhuang Temple Grand Formation.
"The Wuzhuang Temple Grand Formation involves a large amount of talisman work. Setting up the formation also requires many talismans."
"I just obtained the Wuzhuang Temple Talisman Arts from Flynna."
"If I study talismans first, then comprehend the formation, my progress will be much faster."
"Talisman arts are also a profound method. They are worth learning."
Theodore found a quiet place, sat cross-legged, and immersed his mind in the Wuzhuang Temple Talisman Arts.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
When Theodore opened his eyes, there was a faint trace of exhaustion in them.
"The Dao of talismans is indeed vast and profound."
"No wonder Zhen Yuanzi used it to support the Wuzhuang Temple Grand Formation."
"Even for quasi-saints, talismans clearly still have great use."
"Fortunately, I have the All-Seeing Heavenly Eye. My progress is far beyond ordinary. After three days, I can't claim mastery, but I have finally stepped through the gate."
After resting for a moment and calming the fatigue in his mind, Theodore's eyes gleamed.
"I have simulated drawing talismans countless times in my mind these past three days, but I still haven't used the art in reality."
"Let me test it."
For the sake of caution, Theodore selected the first talisman he would draw in this magical world.
A common cultivation support talisman, even in the Primordial World—
The Clear Mind Talisman.
According to the Wuzhuang Temple Talisman Arts, most ordinary Clear Mind Talismans had limited effects. At best, they calmed the mind and cleared stray thoughts.
But Wuzhuang Temple's talisman arts were extraordinary.
Even a basic talisman like the Clear Mind Talisman could surpass what ordinary talisman masters could imagine.
A Clear Mind Talisman drawn with this method could allow a cultivator to immediately enter a state of focused meditation, saving much of the time normally spent clearing distractions.
It could also suppress the birth of heart demons and even slightly increase the chance of sudden enlightenment.
Accumulated over time, even this one Clear Mind Talisman could create a visible gap between cultivators of similar talent.
That was the advantage of an orthodox inheritance.
Theodore took a deep breath and focused.
A sheet of dragon hide appeared in his hand.
He cut his fingertip.
Golden blood spilled out, radiating a sacred aura. It was practically divine blood.
Dragon hide as paper.
Divine blood as ink.
His fingertip as the brush.
Theodore moved like a dragon and snake, drawing the first talisman of this world.
The moment his finger fell, thunder suddenly rumbled in the sky.
It was as if heaven and earth had been startled awake.
A wild wind howled between heaven and earth.
It sounded faintly like ghosts and gods wailing.
When the talisman formed, heaven and earth trembled.
When the brush fell, ghosts and gods were shocked.
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